Where would a recruit sent home go to inquire about reenlistment; Recruiter, IG or JAG?

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 04 May 2018 09:42:09 -0400

I've looked through a couple threads here, and not getting a warm & fuzzy for an answer. I know a guy who was sent home from Basic ostensibly for "mental health" issues, which he strongly disputes. He states he was feeling blue--not depressive--and having trouble being motivated (must not have had any of MY old Drill Sergeants!), and the commander decided to send him home. Apparently he can reenlist with a waver, so he wants to know where to go to A.) Dispute the basic premise of why he was discharged from Basic & B.) To begin the process he will need to go through to get back in.
Any thoughts?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2018 9:56 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 May 2018 09:56:44 -0400

Best answer is go back to the recruiter

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made May 4 at 2018 10:07 AM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Fri, 04 May 2018 10:07:43 -0400

SGT Dave Tracy: I agree with SSG Private RallyPoint Member- I would go back to your recruiter.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2018 10:58 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 May 2018 10:58:18 -0400

I would personally start with a civilian mental health professional and get an eval and a green light from them. He'll have to do it anyway. Might as well walk in the door prepared.

Response by CPT Don Kemp made May 4 at 2018 11:16 AM

CPT Don Kemp — Fri, 04 May 2018 11:16:32 -0400

Some Army schools dismissed students who failed to complete the course with "LOM" - Lack of Motivation. While this didn't mean an immediate discharge, it was a "CLM" career limiting move.
As a former Drill Sergeant, my guess is your friend was less than ideally suited for a military career and the military acted appropriately.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made May 4 at 2018 11:40 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 04 May 2018 11:40:11 -0400

SGT Dave Tracy Leave the feelings behind on this one.
It does not matter your friend "feels" he was discharged for or that is was a mistake it really only matters that he was, and what separation chapter was used for that discharge.

Id guess it was a Chapter 11. Entry Level Performance and Conduct separation. But that needs to be confirmed. Unless there was obvious (perceived or real) mental health issues, the CoC would not have bothered or taken the time to separate under a different chapter.
So while the CDR's personal reason may have been perceived mental health issues Id bet the paperwork is just a Chap 11 garden verity ELS.

11-2. Basis for separation Separation of a soldier in entry level status may be warranted on the grounds of unsatisfactory performance and/or unsatisfactory conduct as evidenced by
a. Inability.
b. Lack of reasonable effort.
c. Failure to adapt to the military environment.
d. Minor disciplinary infractions.

So he needs to confirm what kind of a discharge under what chapter he was discharged and what his re entry code is, then create supporting documents as to why that "issue" is no longer an issue then go see a recruiter and convince them to invest time.

Response by SSG Dale London made May 4 at 2018 5:00 PM

SSG Dale London — Fri, 04 May 2018 17:00:04 -0400

It will all depend on the re-enlistment code on his DD 214. RE-1 and RE-2 codes should be okay. RE-3 is problematic. RE-4 is a death knell.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 4 at 2018 5:20 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Fri, 04 May 2018 17:20:23 -0400

I'm no expert on Basic Training, but I'm guessing your friend had more problems than feeling "blue" about his life in Basic--it's designed to suck. I strongly recommend he consider other opportunities to serve. He could apply for DoD civil service jobs, apply for Law Enforcement, or better yet firefighting for EMT. All of these types of jobs would give him a chance to serve his fellow citizens.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 4 at 2018 10:12 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 04 May 2018 22:12:28 -0400

Ok, to be discharged like that, it was done, thru and signed off by Medical Doctors- kind of hard to dispute their findings unless you are either a Doctor yourself, or have the money to hire a battery of DR for you corner. If he sees a recruiter about enlisting again, he asks for a waiver- which he can produce evidence of a Doctor that he is not or no longer having issues. - Much less of a fight, than trying to prove the Doctors were stupid or incompetent.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Nov 12 at 2019 6:29 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 06:29:18 -0500

The only one who can reasonably help is a recruiter but it will depend on the discharge type.